How to Eat, What to Eat and What to Avoid and After a Tooth Extraction

If you need your teeth extracted, summer is the best time to do it. Your kids will be off from school, so they won’t have to miss school for a few days after their tooth extraction. Also, if you’re the one your tooth is being extracted, it’s often easier to get time off during summer as business slows down. In addition, you will be bound to feel more relaxed.

Once you’ve booked your appointment with your oral surgeon, you might wonder what to eat after the extraction. As expected, soft foods are ideal during the first few days of recovery. However, before having your tooth extracted at a dental office in Fox Creek Dental by Espire Westminster, it’s important to discuss the tooth removal procedure with your oral surgeon.

The dentist will provide you with instructions for fast tooth extraction recovery. In addition, they’ll instruct you how to eat, what to eat, and what not on the list.

How to Eat

Your approach to how you eat is just as important as the types of foods you eat. For example, it’s recommended you chew only on the opposite side of your mouth from the treated area.

In addition, since you’ll be consuming more liquids than solids during the first few days, it might be tempting to use a drinking straw. However, the drinking straw is not advisable since the straw’s suction can dislodge the blood clot and lead to a longer healing time.

What to Eat

Some of the foods you can eat after an extraction include:

Ice Cream

Unless your teeth are sensitive, ice cream is good after tooth extraction, especially in summer. It’s soft and cool, so it’s eaten comfortably even if one’s mouth is tender. Also, since ice cream is cold, it helps minimize any swelling in the mouth.

You should, however, choose your ice cream carefully. Soft serve is ideal after your oral surgery since you don’t require much jaw to eat it.

Cool Soup

Taking cool soup is great for eating after tooth removal. Soup is easy to eat and contains plenty of nutrients and proteins to help the muscles of your teeth feel better. Make sure the soup is smooth to avoid any discomfort when eating it.

Smoothies

Blend your fresh fruits with some kefir or yoghurt to add calcium, protein, and probiotics to the drink. Adding yoghurt or any other type of dairy product to the smoothie makes it less acidic. As a result, the smoothie will become less likely to irritate tender gums.

Also, you can use apple sauce when making your smoothie, which helps add some fiber to your diet. The more fruits you can get, the better the healing.

Scrambled Eggs

As long as your scrambled aren’t too hot, they are a good pick following a tooth extraction. They’re high in protein, gentle, and don’t require much effort in the way of chewing.

What Not to Eat

Types of foods that you should avoid eating after a tooth extraction include:

Spicy and Acidic Foods

You may love to add a dab of hot sauce to your meals, but you’ve had a tooth extraction, it’s best to avoid the spice. This is because spicy food like hot pepper can irritate your mouth. And since you don’t want an irritation in your mouth, it’s best to wait until your dentist gives the go-ahead to enjoy your favorite spices. Also, like spicy foods, acidic foods can irritate your mouth after a tooth extraction hence you should avoid them.

Crunchy Snacks

During the first week after a tooth extraction, you should avoid crunchy snacks, even cold ones. These snacks are difficult to chew when your mouth is sore. They can also break off, and some pieces get stuck in the socket. You should stick to soft foods until your dentist tells you otherwise.

Straws and Other Concerns

Using a straw to take drinks right after tooth extraction can cause a sucking motion, increasing your risk of developing a dry socket. To help minimize the risk of these complications, take small sips of cool beverages after the surgery without a straw.

It is usually nice to brush your teeth the night after your extraction to keep your mouth in good shape. However, be gentle as possible and use a soft-bristled toothbrush. Also, avoid brushing the area of the extraction.